Voting begins in Chini by-election

CHINI POLLS | Some 20,816 voters will cast their ballots today in Chini - a rural state seat in Pahang - for one of three candidates, BN’s Mohd Sharim Md Zain (above), 41, and two independent candidates, Tengku Zainul Hisham Tengku Hussin, 64, and blogger Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli, 49.

Tengku Zainul was Pekan Bersatu deputy chief when he announced his intention to run against Mohd Sharim, a second-generation Felda Chini settler, leading to the former’s membership being automatically terminated by the PN component party.

Tengku Zainul claimed he decided to contest after discussions with party supporters and Chini Felda settlers, despite risking his party membership and post.

Despite not fielding him as a candidate, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who leads the Bersatu faction opposed to party chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin, has expressed his support for Tengku Zainul (below).

Meanwhile, Mohd Shukri, a former PKR member, denied social media claims his candidacy was sponsored by PKR.

Fellow PN parties PAS and Bersatu have opted out of the contest to make way for Umno, while Pakatan Harapan had also decided not to field a candidate.

The post became vacant following the death of the incumbent, BN’s Abu Bakar Harun, 60, of a heart attack on May 6.

Umno stronghold

The Malay-majority seat is considered an Umno stronghold. It is also one of four state seats under the Pekan parliamentary constituency held by former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

In GE14 in 2018, Abu Bakar won the seat with a majority of 4,622 votes against PAS candidate Mohd Fadhil Noor Abdul Karim and PKR candidate Mohamad Razali Ithnain of PKR.

In the first for elections in the country, in line with new rules in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, candidates were initially not permitted to hold house-to-house campaigning and traditional ceramah gatherings.

However, the Election Commission (EC) later relaxed these rulings, with a maximum of 250 people were allowed to attend indoor ceramahs at one time.

Touching or handshakes between the candidates or campaign party with voters were, however, not allowed during campaigning, in adherence to new standard operating procedures for the polls.

There are 13 voting centres, with 65 polling channels opened, and some 838 people on duty to facilitate today's voting which take place from 8am to 5.30pm. 

The EC is expecting a voter turnout of 70 percent and has appointed 32 election observers from government agencies, NGOs and qualified individuals to monitor the election process.

The winner of the contest is expected to be announced later this evening. - Mkini